4,600-year-old Tomb Found

The World - In Brief

June 16, 2002

CAIRO, Egypt -- Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered what may be the oldest intact sarcophagus, belonging to a supervisor of pyramid builders, the country's top archaeologist said Saturday. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Antiquities and head of the excavation team, said hieroglyphics found in a tomb recently discovered near the Giza Pyramids revealed the name of its owner, Ny-Nsw-Wsert, and his title, "overseer of the administrative district," which means he was in charge of the work force. Hawass said his team found an intact, limestone sarcophagus with the lid glued to it, which "proves that no one opened it since [about] 4,600 years ago."